Border Eggs & MacLean Eggs
Border Eggs and MacLean Eggs are progressive free-range egg producers based in the Scottish Borders. With sustainability at the heart of the business, they partnered with Alt-Group to get more from their existing solar investment through a smarter, more flexible energy storage solution.
The Objective
After investing heavily in solar PV across the poultry estate, the business was generating large amounts of renewable electricity. However, local grid restrictions meant excess solar energy was often being clipped or exported at low value, reducing the overall benefit of the existing system.
The Solution
Rather than pushing for costly grid upgrades, Alt-Group developed a smarter solution that worked with the site’s existing infrastructure. A 538kWh battery energy storage system was installed alongside new hybrid inverters, allowing excess solar energy to be stored on site and used when needed most.
The Result
The new battery storage system has changed the way Border Eggs and MacLean Eggs use energy across the estate. Instead of losing excess solar generation during peak periods, the business can now store and use more of the electricity it produces on site, helping reduce reliance on imported grid energy and giving greater energy security and control.
The project is now delivering savings of more than £35,000 per year, with a projected payback period of just over five years. Importantly, the solution also avoided the need for expensive DNO reinforcement works after the local network operator confirmed no additional export capacity was available.
Alongside improving energy efficiency, the project supports the business’s wider commitment to sustainability, biodiversity and responsible farming across the estate.
James and Angela MacLean commented:
“The technical expertise from Alt has been outstanding. Our engineer Lee Goddard ensured the system was installed and functioning perfectly, often working late into the night to ensure the project was delivered to schedule.”
